Comments on Ephesians 2

v1-10  These new members of the ecclesia were formerly
spiritually dead (v. 1) because they walked after the manner of
the world according to the machinations of the adversary (v. 2). 
Paul himself and the others in the ecclesia whom these new
members have now joined were likewise spiritually dead, being
carnal and worldly as all those outside of the eccelsia are (v.
3).  But God's love and mercy caused Him to raise up the
spiritually dead and make them spiritually alive with Christ,
even though they didn't deserve it (v. 4-5).  We have been raised
up with Christ (v. 6), showing the Father's kindness to us as a
result of Jesus Christ's sacrifice (v. 7).  Salvation is a gift
of the Father granted to us because of our faith in the Son (v.
8), it is not something we have earned by keeping the
commandments, so we cannot boast in our righteousness (v. 9). 
However, while we don't earn salvation by keeping the
commandments, we still need to have a godly walk because we have
been told to do so (v. 10).

     When Paul previously discussed Grace and works (e.g., Rom.
2:13, Rom. 5:1-2) his intent was to mitigate the reliance on the
works of the Law of Moses which are still being pushed by the
Judaizers within the ecclesia.  Here, Paul's intent is quite
different.  He is emphasizing how unworthy the individual is of
God's Grace and how all men are sinners who rely on God's love
and mercy.  Paul is probably addressing congregations that are
mainly, if not entirely, composed of Gentiles, so the threat of
Judaizers was probably minimal.

v8-10 are commonly used by those not favorably disposed to the
LDS Church in an effort to argue LDS doctrine of salvation is not
Biblical because we believe we have to "work" for our salvation. 
This matter is discussed at length in the following:

  http://www.cybcon.com/~kurtn/saved.txt

     Another possible tangent on the "saved by grace" topic is
the somewhat common idea that the Resurrection is what is being
referred to.  This cannot be the case as the Resurrection is
universal to all who have ever lived upon the earth.  One does
not need faith to be resurrected, so this cannot be what Paul is
referring to.  Grace is conditional upon faith, resurrection is
unconditionally granted.

v11-22  Christ's sacrifice has ended the division between the
uncircumcised Gentiles and circumcised Israel because the Law of
Moses has been abolished (v. 11-16).  Now, all people have access
to the Father via the same Holy Spirit, and so there are no more
foreigners in the ecclesia (v. 18-19).  They are established upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as
their cornerstone (v. 20) and so the whole ecclesia should be
built together as a Temple of God (v. 21) wherein the Spirit of
God dwells (v. 21).
                                 
v17 is apparently a paraphrase of Isa. 57:19. 

Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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